Ball joint cotter pin?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Starting the replacement of the ball joints on the GF's 82 SC. I've got the wedge pin out and separated the strut from the joint, but am having a heck of a time figuring out what's going on with the cotter pin in at the bottom of the joint!

I've got the ends of the pin straightened, but I cannot find the front of the pin to pull it out. Nor has pushing the ends done very much to this point. The car isn't that far up in the air, so it's a little difficult to get a direct look at the bottom of the joint; however it looks like there is a flat rectangle of metal that has a lip on the other side from where the cotter pin ends were? And what may be the nose of the pin is visible in front of or under that lip.

I just ordered the parts (poor planning) so I cannot examine one off the car.

Anyone have pics the parts, or a good description of the cotter pin placement? Any notion of how the pin holds the lock plate on? The Bentley manual is not so helpful on that particular detail, either...

Thanks!

--DD

[vash]

the flat rectangle is really two flat "turned up" tabs. the two tabs have a hole in the middle of them. the cotter pin threads thru both of them. the factory turned, both loose ends of the cotter pin, twice. they actually wrap the ends back around the tabs. i think if you are doing it blind, snip the middle, between the tabs. snip the cotter pin and pull it out in both directions. if you have the new parts, turn the ball joint over and take a peek. you will have an "aahhhhh" moment.

[jbrand540]

It has been a while since I did mine but I do remember that once straightened the other end of the pen did not have much to grab on to. As I remember I straghtened them really well with needle nose and pushed it out. Are you sure the pen is not slightly kinked near the hole? Also if I remember correctly the cotter pen and angled edges that matched up to the hole so if the ends were twisted it would not fit through.

If you are replacing them you can always cut the cotter pen off in the center with a dremel? Or if you plan to dremel off the castle nuts on the ball joint then dont worry about ithe cotter pen and once you have cut off the nut you can toss the old ball joint with the cotter pen and plate still in place.

[sjf911]

A picture is worth a thousand words (so they say).

[jbrand540]

waved the camera under the car a few times and came up with a pretty lucky picture of it. Perhaps this will help. I put these on about a year ago.

[imcarthur]

Thanks for the great pics guys. I'll be doing this job in the spring.

Ian

[jbrand540]

Good luck! If you got the wedge pins out you are through the most troublesome part. The rest is easy. You cannot always cut off the bottom nuts with a dremel and some patience, its how I did mine.

[jbrand540]

TYPO - I meant you "can" always cut them off with a dremel

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Thanks for the pictures! I think that the "tabs" on Lisa's car have been smashed flat, and the one is folded over the end of the cotter pin. Gonna be a pain in the patoot to fold it back far enough to get it out. I'm thinking I'll probably have to cut or chisel it off.

The wedge pin was cake, BTW. A good air chisel makes quick work of it! The ol' copper mallet wouldn't budge it, but a little air pressure--BRRRRRRRT! Popped loose very quickly!

Gotta get me a compressor one'a these days. (Plus it'll keep my buddy from getting annoyed at a partly-disassembled car in his driveway!!)

--DD

[RWebb]

ANybody know the function of the star shaped 'washer'? I've always wondered what good it really does...

[jbrand540]

It is to keep the nut from turning as the teeth on the washer fit right into the grooves on the bottom of the nut.

[sjf911]

Originally Posted by RWebb

ANybody know the function of the star shaped 'washer'? I've always wondered what good it really does...

I know what you mean. Getting that nut off was a bear. I can't imagine those things coming loose short of improper installation.